A MUM has criticised Stroud District Council for a ‘lack of action’ to fix various problems with her home, calling the situation ‘a crisis’.

Last month people living in Stroud District Council flats received personalised letters asking them to move items stored in communal areas and hallways, including recycling bins and doormats, into their flats because they were a fire hazard.

However residents have said that moving the items would just move the hazard into their flats.

Sophia Taylor, who has lived in a flat in Dursley for more than three years, was asked to move a shoe rack from outside her front door but says she will refuse to do so within the council’s deadline of 28 days because multiple issues and complaints she has raised with the council have gone unanswered.

“Over the years I like to think I’ve been a responsible tenant,” she told the Gazette. “I pay my rent on time and have always reported any issues to the council.

“Despite having a hole in the roof and bathroom appliances that have not worked since I first moved in, I have never kicked-up a big fuss but it’s incredibly annoying to be constantly ignored and then to be asked to move stuff from a ‘shared hallway’ – which I share with no one – because it’s a fire hazard.”

In November, she submitted a formal complaint to Stroud District Council about its lack of action to tackle problems but has yet to receive any response.

“It’s disgraceful, to be honest,” Miss Taylor, who used to volunteer at Kingshill Community Project, added.

“What’s going on for council tenants is a real crisis and something has to be done.”

A spokesman for Stroud District Council said: “We are corresponding with Miss Taylor regarding a number of issues she posted on our Facebook page, however we cannot comment publicly.

“A fire risk assessment was carried out in the communal areas, such as stairwells, landings and hallways, of all our blocks of flats. This highlighted a number of areas where clutter and personal belongings were a serious fire risk.  

“We wrote to all addresses where items were found in communal areas asking for them to be removed."